UT student to introduce President Obama in Austin

Associated Press

The Associated Press

Published 5:45 pm, Wednesday, July 9, 2014

US President Barack Obama is greeted by Texas Governor Rick Perry as he arrives in Dallas, Texas, on July 9, 2014 for a meeting with local elected officials and faith leaders to discuss the urgent humanitarian situation at the Southwest border. Obama on requested $3.7 billion in emergency funding from Congress to help cope with a surge of unaccompanied child immigrants from Central America. AFP PHOTO/Jewel SamadJEWEL SAMAD/AFP/Getty Images
Photo: JEWEL SAMAD, AFP/Getty Images

She was watching a TV news program, shortly after Christmas, on the fight over extension of federal unemployment benefits when she took the advice of one of the politician and wrote to the president.

Button's parents at the time were unemployed. Her father was laid off from an engineering job in Houston and she shared the story about him being over qualified and not able to get a job.

"I felt that this topic just really hit home and it was really personal, so I wanted to make my voice heard personally by physically writing a letter," Button said.

Button, 20, a self-proclaimed political buff, shared her story and concerns over how families are having problems paying for college. She urged Obama to work with Congress to find a solution. Button's letter also praised the president for supporting programs to educate the children of low-income families.

Obama will be in Austin privately raising money for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and the Democratic National Committee. His public appearance will be at the Paramount Theatre, to talk about the economy.

The White House on Tuesday contacted Button to ask if she would be willing to introduce the president. She's working on her remarks.

"I'm very scared, absolutely," Button said. "I have started preparing a little bit. I don't know if it should be funny or serious or a bit of both."

White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Button has a story to tell about the challenges her middle-class family faces putting her through college.